EMAP, the voluntary standards, assessment, and accreditation process for disaster preparedness programs throughout the country, fosters excellence and accountability in emergency management and homeland security programs, by establishing credible standards applied in a peer review accreditation process. EMAP was created by a group of national organizations to foster continuous improvement in emergency management capabilities. It provides emergency management programs the opportunity to be recognized for compliance with industry standards, to demonstrate accountability, and to focus attention on areas and issues where resources are needed.

Emergency management is the preparation for and carrying out of all emergency functions, other than military, to minimize injury and to repair damage resulting from disasters caused by fire, flood, storm, earthquake, or other natural causes, or enemy attack, sabotage, or other hostile action, and to provide support for rescue operations for persons and property in distress.

Emergency management includes prevention of, mitigation against, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters or emergencies. Additionally, state and local governments may have specific definitions of emergency management in their laws.

EMAP defines "emergency management" in the broadest sense, meaning it encompasses all organizations with emergency/disaster functions in a jurisdiction, rather than only one agency or department. This system includes organizations involved in prevention of, mitigation against, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters or emergencies.